Stopcock shield



S. HOLLAND STOFCOCK SHIELD Filed Jan. 5, 1925 Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL HOLLAND, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

STOIPCOCK SHIELD.

Application filed January'5, 1925. Serial I10. 598.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL ROLLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing in Flint, in the county of, Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Stopcock Shield, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a shield for the stop-cock of gas ranges, to protect the gas range from undue operation by children and the like, the invention serving to enclose the stopcock in a housing so as to render the stopcocks inaccessible for operation, until the shield is moved to inoperative position.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a shield of this class, a flexible, movable, shielding member adapted for operating in suitable guides and for being locked in operative position, the locking means being readily movable to release the shield for movement to inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of channel bearing guide members adapted for engaging the edges of the movable shield and guiding the same in its moving operations.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a shield of this class, of a flexible shielding member made from a plurality of parts hingedly connected together and adapted for movement into longitudinally extending arrangement or into arcua'te relative formation.

Another object is the provision of a supporting plate adapted for permitting adjustment of the shield relatively to the stove with which mounted, so as to accommodate the shield for use with stoves of various shapes and sizes, within the limits of the adjustments of the supporting member.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on substantially line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the invention mounted on the feed pipe of .a gas range.

Fig 3 is a perspective view of a locking device used with the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sup porting member used with the invention.

The invention, as shown in the drawings, is adapted for use with gas ranges and the like, so as to provide means for shielding the stop-cocks of the gas range and render them inaccessible until the shield is moved to inoperative position, so as to prevent undue operation of the stop-cocks. The gas range is usually provided with a main feed pipe 7, in which is connected a plurality of nipples 8, connecting with stopcocks 9, having operating handles 10, for opening and closing the stop-cocks. A supply pipe 11, leads from the stop-cocks to the burner of the stove. It is to shield these stop-cocks 9 and the operating handles 10, for which the invention is provided. A casting 12 is provided with a pair of jaws 13 and 14, which are adapted to embrace the feed pipe 7. A suitable set screw 15 is threaded in one of the jaws 14 and adapted upon threading into engagement with the pipe 7, to clamp-the casting 12 securely in position on the main feed pipe 7. A web 16, which is formed on the channel bearing guide members 17, at its arcuate portion 18, is secured by a suitable screw to the casting 12, a supporting member 19 being interposed between the casting 12 and the end of the web 16. This supporting member extends from end to end of the device, one of the channel bearing guide members 17 being positioned at each end of the device. Suitable slots 20 and 20" are provided in the support ing member 19, so as to permit adjustment of the device relatively to its mountings. Angularly turned portions, 21 and 22 are also provided with slots through which are projected bolts or screws, for fastening these angularly turned portions 21 and 22 to the web'16. Fixedly mounted on the arcuate portions 18 of the guide members 17, is a shield 23. The guide members 17 are provided with channels 24, which extend throughout their length. Slidably mounted, with the ends engaging in the channels 24-, is a movable shield, comprising a plurality of sections 25. Each of the sections is pro' vided, along its meeting edge, with the adj acent section, with tongues, which are curled to form knuckles 26, the knuckles on the adjacent edges of adjacent sections being alternately placed, each section being provided with notches 2'7, intermediate the knuckles, so that the knuckles of the adjacent sections are in alinement with each other, forthe reception of pintles 28. The arrangement is such that the shield is flexible, and may be moved into horizontally extended position, as shown in Fig. 2, or may be moved rearwardly, so as to lie largely in the arcuate portion 18, behind the permanently arranged snield 23. lVhen the movable shield is in the position shownv inFig. 2, the stop-cocks 9 are enclosed in a housing, and are not conveniently accessible, so that their operation unduly by children and the like, is prevented; Suitable operating handles 29 are mounted on the end section oi the movable shield. Mounted on the members 17, adjacent one end, is a metal strap 30 projecting laterally from one edgeot which, intermediate the ends thereof, is a tongue 81, which is turned upwardly into a tongue having its end curved as at 83. This tongue, when the device is in operative position, is adapted to extend above the upper faces of the movable shields. Formed on the member 30, integral therewith, is a prism V shaped keeper 34L, which is adapted to engage behind the bead 35,.which is formed on the treeendol the end section. A suitable re enforcing rod 36 is projected through this head. The member 30 is made fl'QlllSllltzilDlQ resilient material, so that when the shield is moved in the position shown in Fig. 2, the head 35, in striking the inclined side o1 the keeper 34: will force the same downwardly so as to permit the bead to pass over, thekeeper moving upwardly, so as to engage behind the bead and prevent the movement of the movable shield into inoperative position, so as to render the stop-cocks easily accessible. lVhen it is desired to release the shieldfrom its locking. engagement with the keeper 2%, a downward pressure on the curved end 33 otthe member'BQ, will serve to effect the disengagement desired.

It will be noted that the device is of simple structure, and that it is of such a formation as not to disfigure thegeneral appearance of the stove with which used. "It is also apparent that the stove, in attaching the device thereto, is not in any way mutilated,

as no attachments are necessary, which are to be permanently fastened to the stove. This structure is such that a minimum amountof time is required for installing the device in operative position on the stove, and the installation afsimpleprocess, which may be performed by persons unskilled in this work.

l Vhile-I have illustrated and described the preferred form ot structure, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, but desire .to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shield of the class described, adapted for use with a gas stove, having a feed pipe comprising a clamping member adapted for engagement on said pipe; channel bearing guide members formed arcnate, adjacent one end; a web formed on said guide members adjacent said arcuate end; means for connecting said web to said clamping members; a permanently arranged shield, mounted on said arcuate portion; and a movable shield mounted in said guide members and adapted for movement in one position, for rendering the stop-cocks of the stove with which used, inaccessible.

A shield of the class described, adapted for use with a stove having a main feed pipe and branch pipes, provided with stopcocks comprising a clamping member adapted for mounting on said main feed pipe; guide members having an arcnate portion adjacent one end thereof, said guide members having channels on one face; means for attaching said guide members to said clamping members; a shield permanently mounted on said arcuate portion of said guide members; a movable-shield mounted slidably in said channels, and adapted for engagement in the channels in said a-rcnateportion, for rendering the stop-cocks of said stove accessible, said movable shield being movable into substantially horizontal position, "for rendering said stop-cocks inaccessible; and means for locking said movable shields in operative position.

3. A shield oftheclass described, adapted for use with a gas stove having a main feed pipe andbranch pipes provided withstopcocks comprising a supporting member adapted for mounting on said feed pipe;

guide members mounted on said supporting member, said guide members'being formed arcua-te adjacent one end, and provided on one face with a channel; and aflexible sectional shielding member slidably mounted in said channel and adapted for movement into the channels on said arcuate portion. to render said stopcocks inaccessible, and

for movement in said channels, out of engagement with the channels in said arcuate portion, for rendering said stop-cocks inaccessible; and spring-held means for locking'said'flexible shielding member in operative position. 1

l. A shield of the class describe-d, adapted for use with a gas stove having a main feed pipe provided With branch pipes, each having, a stop-cock mounted therein, comprising a-clamping member adapted for mounting on said main feed pipe; guide members mounted on said clamping members, each ill) of said guide members being formed arcuate adjacent one end thereof, and provided on one face, with a channel; a web mounted on said guide members, adjacent said arcuate portion; a shield permanently mounted on said arcuate portion; a sectional flexible shield, mounted in said channels, and adapted for movement therein; a spring-held keeper, adapted for engagement with said shields, for releasedly locking the same in operative position.

5. A shield of the class described, adapted for use with a gas stove having a main feed pipe provided with branch pipes, each having a stop-cock mounted therein, comprising a clamping member adapted for mounting on said main feed pipe; guide members mounted on said clamping members, each of said guide members being formed arcuate adjacent one end thereof, and provided on one face, with a channel; a web mounted on said guide members, adjacent said arcuate portion; a shield permanently mounted on said arcuate portion; a sectional flexible shield, mounted in said channels, and adapted for movement therein; a spring-held keeper, adapted for engagement with said shields, for release-dly locking the same in operative position; and a handle projecting upwardly from said keeper, for facilitating the disengagement of said keeper from said shield.

6. A shield of the class described, adapted for use with a gas stove having a main feed pipe and a plurality of supply pipes, each having a stop-cock mounted therein, comprising clamping members adapted. for mounting on said feed pipe; a supporting member adapted for connecting said clamping members, said supporting member having slots formed therein, for permitting the adjustment of said clamping members, relatively to each other; guide members, each of sald guide members having one end thereof formed arcuate; a web mounted on each of said guide members, adjacent the arcuate end and projecting inwardly; angularly turned portions on said supporting member, adapted for attachment to said web; ashield permanently mounted on said arcuate portion; a flexible sectional shield, slidably mounted in the channel, formed on the inner face of said guide members, and adapt ed for movement into operative and inopera tive position.

7. A shield of the class described, adapted for use with a gas stove, having a main feed pipe provided with a plurality of supply pipes. each having a stop-cock mounted therein, comprising a clamping member adapted for embracing said feed pipe; a supporting member adapted for connecting said clamping members, and for permitting their relative adjustment to each other; guide members formed arcuate adjacent one end; a shield permanently mounted on said guide members, adjacent the arcuate end; a web projected inwardly from the arcuate portion of each of said guide members; an angularly turned portion at each end of said supporting member, adapted for attachment to said web, for permitting the withdrawal and approach of said web relatively to said clamping member; a flexible shield slidably mounted in channels formed on the inner faces of said guide members; a bead formed on the outer end of said shields; a keeper mounted on said guide members, adjacent the inner end thereof, spring held normally in operative position, and adapted for en'- gaging behind said bead for locking said flexible shield releasably in operative position; and accessible means for disengaging said keeper from behind said bead, for permitting the movement of said flexible shields into inoperative position, for rendering said stop-cocks easily accessible.

In testimony whereof, I have signed the foregoing specification.

SAMUEL HOLLAND. 

